FARM INCOMES

That this House notes that none of the farming unions have mentioned the seven times inflation increase in farm incomes in 2006-07 compared with 2005-06; notes that the average increase in all farming types was 24.6 per cent., with larger increases of 33 per cent. in mixed farming, 88 per cent. in lowland grazing livestock, 119 per cent. in general cropping and 120 per cent. in cereals; regrets that only the 19 per cent. decrease in the dairy sector has been mentioned in 10 Early Day Motions; and calls for balance from farming lobbyists and a reassessment of the farm tax which takes £540 a year from the average family, very few of whom have enjoyed a doubling of their incomes in this period.